Grand Canyon Railway
On Day 3 of our vacation in Sedona we took a trip to see the Grand Canyon, by way of the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, AZ. We got up early to get there as the “cowboy show” at the depot began at 9 AM and the train boarded at 9:30 AM. The twisty Hwy 89 Alternate kept us occupied as it guided us through Oak Creek Canyon, with its varied topography and beautiful views.
We arrived back from our trip to Sedona late last night. Our travel was quite easy, with both kids being travel superstars.
On the way out of the RDU airport we met a family who we’d also seen in Sedona. After riding back to the long-term parking lot and fetching our car, we came upon them standing around their minivan. A quick jump-start later and we had sent them on their way. It was a great way to finish off our vacation.
We’re glad we have Easter Sunday to catch our breath before diving back into the work week. And it’s a beautiful day, too. This evening I’ll catch you up on all the things we did on our vacation.
We got a big break yesterday in our Sedona trip because the rain and snow that were predicted came much later in the day than expected. We got in a good hike along Fay Canyon and enjoyed a lunch in downtown Sedona before the rain clouds began to gather. Around the time we drove the few miles back to the house we were greeted with snowflakes! In the span of one week we’ve gotten three seasons worth of weather!
Today we’re going to Flagstaff to visit the famous Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930. I’ve also been intrigued by Flagstaff since I first caught a glimpse of it during our trip to the Grand Canyon. Because the messy weather that was expected for the end of this week didn’t materialize we’ve got a few “free” days to explore other cool things.
We made it to the Grand Canyon yesterday. Drove to Williams, AZ and hopped aboard the Grand Canyon Railway for the 65-mile trip to the park itself. Stayed about 3 hours at the Canyon and then returned again by train.
It was a great trip. I’ll blog more about it when we’re not on the way to somewhere else!
Birthday Boy
We all awoke this morning with a better feel for this week’s time zone. The sun rose through skies a touch cloudier than the day before. We began the day with a pancake breakfast, then stashed Easter eggs around the house for the kids to find.
After all eggs had been discovered, we celebrated my nephew Wesley’s fourth birthday with balloons, cake, and ice cream. The kids didn’t seem to mind, but I couldn’t take on ice cream and cake at 8:20 in the morning!
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We awoke around 6 AM PST after a night of fitful sleep. After becoming accustomed to a king-sized bed we found a queen bed to be tight quarters. The time change didn’t help, either, as our heads seemed to be stuck on East Coast time.
After a breakfast of eggs and bagels we prepared for our hike. The sun had crested the surrounding hills and was burning off the early chill. I went from wearing jeans and two shirts to a shirt and shorts by the time we were leaving.
Daybreak
I was transfixed by the amazing natural beauty surrounding our house. Huge cliffs rose around us into the deep blue sky. A rabbit sat warily at the end of the driveway. Birds darted under the eave of the house, searching for a spot to make a nest. Neighbors strolled with their dogs along the road near our house.
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We’ve put the lid on our first full day in Sedona and it was a great one! Lots of family hiking, hiking with just Kelly and me, and laughter and fun at dinner.
At the airport
Our trip began smoothly Saturday morning when we timed our arrival at RDU airport almost exactly right. Getting through security with about an hour to spare, we grabbed lunch and settled into our seats at the gate. Hallie and Travis were visibly excited as we waited our turn to board. Thanks to the magic of family boarding, we managed to snag three seats on one side and one on the other on our plane: the best we could do for a 737. The kids settled in next to Kelly and I sat across the aisle.
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Google’s James Kelly, Product Manager for their Google 1Gbps Internet project, talks about where they go from here.
So what’s next? Over the coming months, we’ll be reviewing the responses to determine where to build. As we narrow down our choices, we’ll be conducting site visits, meeting with local officials and consulting with third-party organizations. Based on a rigorous review of the data, we will announce our target community or communities by the end of the year.
So, it’s all in The Goog’s hands, at this point. I’m hoping the City of Raleigh makes the cut, in spite of the less-than-motivating city effort.
Previously:
Raleigh works to woo Google Fiber.
Gaga for Google’s fiber – Independent Weekly
Dang! It looks like I missed a Wikipedia meetup here in Raleigh. I’ve not been all that thrilled with some of the local blogger meetups I’ve been to but a group of Wikipedians sounds like a lot of fun.
Hopefully I’ll be around for the next one!
We’re about to embark on a week-long trip to Sedona, Arizona. I’m looking forward to it as I’ve heard a lot about Arizona from my buddy Greg and others. I’ve also been captivated by what I could see through the windows of Phoenix’s lovely Sky Harbor Airport. That’s been as close to visiting Arizona as I’ve been up to date.
I’m looking forward to rediscovering the subtle beauty of the desert. I’ve also heard a lot about Sedona and expect it will live up to the hype. And folks tell me there’s a big ditch that’s worth a good look-see.
If you Internet folks have other suggestions for things to see, let me know!
